Page 61 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

“Bureau of District Accounting,” he answered before turning his horse around and riding off.

Helena felt a cold chill crawl around her chest as he rode away.

The missing funds have surely been discovered.

Miss Justina walked up the stairs with the small smile still on her face. Miss Helena shook her head. Her heart felt heavy. Whatever was written in that letter could not be good news. Miss Justina stretched the letter to her mistress. Helena wasn’t sure she could bear holding that letter.

“Go and give it to the Baron,” she said.

Miss Justina’s eyes showed doubt as if she detected the change in demeanour from her mistress. She turned and walked to the entrance door.

I have to be there when Father reads this. I’m supposed to know what’s in the letter.

“Bring it,” Helena said as Miss Justina’s hand touched the doorknob.

Her maid turned. Her expression was worried now. Helena walked to her and collected the letter.

“Is something wrong?” Miss Justina asked.

Helena shook her head. She couldn’t find the words to answer. She opened the door and walked slowly down the corridor to her father’s chambers. She knocked once and didn’t wait for an invite before going in. The waiting room was empty. The door to the balcony was open.

Father is in there.

Helena walked to the open door and saw her father standing by the railings. His hand hung over the edge as his elbow rested on the balustrade. He was in a soft plain shirt he only wore indoors and grey knickers. His red hair was tussled and scattered. Helena could see the folds of skin below his hairline.

He doesn’t know I’m here. What is he thinking about?

Helena walked close to him and was about to speak when his cold voice halted her in her tracks.

“Do you have the letter?” he said.

Helena was surprised that he knew she was behind him. She was even more surprised he had known about the letter.

“I saw the rider. I saw him give Justina the letter. I knew the most likely source,” he explained.

“The Bureau of District Accounting,” Helena confirmed.

She stood beside her father and rested her elbows on the railings. She stretched the white envelope to her father. He stared at it for a short while without collecting. Helena was about to return her outstretched hand when he collected it from her. He broke the seal, taking his time to open the letter.

“What of mother?” Helena asked.

“She’s in my bedroom. I think she’s asleep. She would have heard you come in and come out to meet you if she was awake,” the Baron responded.

He lifted the letter above the yawning downward space and read intently. He offered it to Helena after reading it. Helena collected it and read.

They hadn’t found out about the missing funds. They were asking for the annual finance report. Helena assumed each barony submitted a statement every year.

“What does this mean for us?” Helena asked.

“It’s not good,” the Baron said.

Helena waited for her father to give further information, but it looked like he wasn’t willing to speak.

“What,” Helena started to say.

“It means we have less time to solve this problem. I have a shorter time to save my head,” her father said, interrupting her.

“Every Baron submits this financial report to the Bureau every year. It should be a signed statement from the bank detailing all credits and debits since the last submission and how credits were generated and how debits were used. A reduction in funds is greatly frowned upon, but if it can be properly explained, there’s no punitive measure. Our accounts are missing an incredible amount of money, and we have no explanation that could come up to scratch. I have a month to respond to this letter, if not I get summoned by the King,” her father said.